Mop swab and method of manufacture

ABSTRACT

In one form, a tape is secured to one or both sides of the mop cords intermediate their ends, after which the tape with cords attached thereto may be folded in a prescribed manner and restitched through the entire bundle of cords to provide a relatively stiff headband for the mop swab. In another form, the mop cords are first bunched together intermediate their ends and then the tape is wrapped completely around the bundle of cords and stitched thereto using plural rows of stitching extending transversely across the width of the tape and also longitudinally along the sides of the tape which longitudinal rows lock the threads in the transverse rows to keep them from coming out at the sides.

United States Patent Moss MOP SWAB AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE [72]Inventor: Theron V. Moss, 3175 Falmouth,

Shaker Heights, Ohio 44120 [22] Filed: Dec. 15, 1969 [21] Appl. No.:885,022

[52] US. Cl ..15/229 R, 112/412, 300/21 [51] Int. Cl. ..A47I 13/20 [58]FieldofSeareh.l5/l47 R, 147 A, 147 B, 147C, 15/226, 228, 229 R, 229 A,229 AC, 229 B,

[451 Oct. 10, 1972 3,246,356 4/ 1966 Sorrells ..15/229 A X 1,774,2098/1930 Nelson ..15/229 8 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 20123/3411/1934 Australia 1 5/229 AC Primary ExaminerDaniel BlumAttorneyOberlin, Maky, Donnelly & Renner ABSTRACT In one form, a tape issecured to one or both sides of the mop cords intermediate their ends,after which the tape with cords attached thereto may be folded in aprescribed manner and restitched through the entire bundle of cords toprovide a relatively stifi' headband for the mop swab. In another form,the mop cords are first bunched together intermediate their ends andthen the tape is wrapped completely around the bundie of cords andstitched thereto using plural rows of stitching extending transverselyacross the width of the tape and also longitudinally along the sides ofthe tape which longitudinal rows lock the threads in the transverse rowsto keep them from coming out at the sides.

16 Claim, 16 Drawing Figures PKTENTEDBBI 10 I922 SHEU 1 BF 2 INVENTORTHRON V. M055 ATTORNEYS PKTENTEDUBT 10 I972 SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTOR THERONll. M055 5 B i a d7 ,5 ATTORNEYS MOP SWAB AND METHOD OF MANUFACTUREBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally asindicated to a novel mop swab and method of manufacture by which theheadband is made relatively flat and stiff usingrelatively light weighttape and the mop cords are securely held in place by the headband.

In the manufacture of mop swabs and particularly wet mops, it is theusual practice to secure the mop cords or yarns together in folded orbunched relation intermediate their ends using a band of textile fabricor other suitable material. To obtain the desired stiffness in theheadband and keep the ends of the headband from drooping, the headbandis ordinarily wrapped completely around the bunched cords and secured tothe cords by stitching entirely through the bundle of cords using lockor chain stitching to resist pull-out of the individual cords. Similarresults may be obtained using a heavier tape stitched to one side onlyof the bunched cords, but the heavier tape is more costly and moredifficult to stitch through, and the resulting headband has unfinishededges. In either case, the problem of the stitching pulling out at thesides thus permitting the cords to be pulled from the headband issignificant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With the foregoing in mind, it is a principalobject of this invention to provide a mop swab including a headband thatis relatively stiff and securely holds the cords against pull-out thusaffording a relatively long life.

Another object is to provide such a mop swab which is relatively simplein construction and easy to manufacture.

Still another object is to provide such a mop swab and method ofmanufacture utilizing a relatively light weight tape for the headband.The mop swab is of rugged construction and the headband has finishededges. In one form of the invention, the tape is secured to one sideonly of the mop cords intermediate their ends with the cords spread out,after which the tape with cords attached thereto is folded in aprescribed manner and restitched through the entire bundle of cords toprovide a headband of the required stiffness which firmly holds thecords in place. In another form of the invention, tape is secured toboth sides of the mop cords, and the tape is folded and restitched orleft as is depending on the desired number of layers of mop cords andrequired stiffness of the headband.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention,then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claims, the following description andthe annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrativeembodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but afew of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may beemployed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the annexed drawings:

FIG. I is a schematic isometric view showing a method by which the mopcords may be wrapped and a tape stitched thereto intermediate the endsthereof as a preliminary step in the manufacture ofa preferred form ofmop swab in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section view through the schematicdiagram of FIG. I, taken on the plane of the line 2-2 thereof;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are schematic isometric views illustrating one way inwhich the tape with cords stitched thereto may be folded and restitchedto complete the headband;

FIG. 5 is a transverse section through the headband of FIG. 4 taken onthe plane of the line 5-5 thereof;

FIGS. 6 through 9 are transverse sections similar to FIG. 5 but showingvarious other ways in which the headband may be folded and restitched;

FIG. 10 is a schematic isometric view similar to FIG. 1, but the mopcords are shown wrapped in bundles with a slight spacing betweenbundles, and a continuous tape stitched to one or both sides of thebundles intermediate the ends thereof;

FIG. 11 is a transverse section through the headband of a mop swab madeby folding one of the bundles of cords made in accordance with FIG. [0having a tape stitched to one side of the bundle of cords;

FIG. I2 is a schematic isometric view of another form of mop swabcomprising one of the bundles of cords of FIG. 10 having tapes stitchedto opposite sides of the bundle of cords intermediate the ends thereof;

FIG. 13 is a transverse section through the headband of the mop swab ofFIG. 12, taken on the plane of the line l3 l3 thereof;

FIG. I4 is a transverse section through another form of mop swab whichis generally similar to that shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, except that theends of the two tapes have been folded to the middle of the bundle toprovide a stiffer headband consisting of four layers of tape;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary isometric view of still another form of mopswab; and

FIG. 16 is an isometric view showing a mop swab in accordance with thisinvention secured to a suitable holder.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now in detail to thedrawings and first especially to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, one or morecontinuous mop cords l of suitable type are shown being wrapped inspiral fashion around the outer runs 2 of a pair of parallel endlessconveyor chains 3 and 4 driven so that the outer runs 2 move in the samedirection to advance the spiral wrap by the conveyor chains. The amountof spacing between each wrap 5 is dependent on the rate at which theconveyor chains are moving and the rate at which the cords are wrappedabout the conveyor chains. The adjacent wraps 5 are shown disposedclosely adjacent each other, but it will be apparent that a greaterspacing may be provided therebetween if desired. Similarly, more thanone layer of cords may be wrapped about the conveyors at the same timedepending upon the desired density of mop cords. Spools 6 of cordmaterial feed the material through guides 7 carried by a turntable 9mounted for rotation about the conveyor chains 3 and 4 for wrapping thecord material about the conveyor chains 3 and 4 as they are driven.

Adjacent the forward end of the conveyor chains 3 and 4 there isprovided a sewing head 10 for stitching a continuous length of tape IIto one side of the spiral wrap longitudinally of the wrap andintermediate the ends of the loops [2 which are formed along oppositesides of the conveyor chains. Whether the cords are of a single layerthickness as shown or of plural layer thicknesses where the cords arestitched to the tape 11 will of course vary depending on the spacingbetween each wrap and the number of wraps, but in the FIG. 1 embodimentit is preferred that there is initially only one layer of cords alongthe tape 11 to provide maximum initial spread of the cords for a purposeto be subsequently explained.

The resulting assembly 13 of spiral wrapped cords 1 may be continuouslywound on a spool for storage and later use or the spiral wrap may bedirectly advanced to another station where the tape 11 and cordsstitched thereto are severed at specified intervals along the length ofthe assembly to permit the tape with cords secured thereto to be foldedat spaced intervals along the length of the tape in any one of a varietyof ways and restitched to form a relatively stiff headband as set forthhereafter. Thus, for example, in FIG. there is shown a headband 15 whichis formed by first folding one end 16 of the cut tape 11 inwardlyapproximately two-thirds of the length of the tape as shown in FIG. 3and then the other end 19 back over the top of the first folded end 16as shown in FIG. 4 to provide three layers 20, 21 and 22 of tape withcords attached thereto overlying each other. The layers are subsequentlystitched together using a suitable lock or chain stitching 18 passingentirely through the bundle of cords, and the first folded end 16 oftape may also be stitched to the underlying layer of tape prior tofolding the other end 19 over, as desired.

ln FIG. 6, there is shown a slightly modified form of headband 23 inwhich the tape 11 is folded from op posite ends to the middle andrestitched to provide two layers 24 and 25 of tape with cords attachedthereto; in FIG. 8, the tape is folded from one end all the way acrossthe length of the tape and restitched to provide a headband 26consisting of two such layers 27 and 28; in FIG. 7 the tape is firstfolded all the way across as in FIG. 8 and then folded all the way backand restitched, to provide a headband 29 consisting of four such layers30-33; in HO. 9 the tape is first folded from opposite ends to themiddle as in FIG. 6 and then refolded all the way across to provide aheadband consisting of four layers of tape, with or without restitchingprior to folding back. The greater the number of layers of tape withcords attached thereto, the more stiff and stable the headband becomes.However, with increased layers, the density of mop cords also increases,which reduces the spread of the mop and much be taken into considerationin determining how many layers should be provided.

Such folding of the tape as described to make the headband also has theadvantage that it provides a substantially finished edge along the sidesofthe headband, and the restitching of the tape after folding also morefirmly secures the cords to the headband and minimizes the chances ofthethreads coming out. There is also the advantage that the headband willbe relatively stiffeven when relatively light weight tape material isused because ofthe manner in which the tape is folded over on itselfandrestitched as previously described.

FIG. 10 shows a method of making a spiral wrap of cords by winding oneor more continuous mop cords 1 in spiral fashion around the outer runs 2of a pair of moving parallel endless conveyor chains 3 and 4, similar toFIGS. 1 and 2. However, instead of making the wrap continuous throughoutits length, the wrapping operation is intermittently interrupted atsuitable spaced apart intervals during continuous movement of theconveyor chains to provide a plurality of bundles 35 of wrapped cordshaving a slight spacing 36 between bundles. Accordingly, when thecontinuous length of tape 11 is longitudinally stitched to one side ofthe wrap intermediate the ends of the loops 12 and subsequently severedbetween adjacent bundles, the severed ends 37 of the tape will extendbeyond each bundle of cords. This provides sufficient tape at the endsto cover any cords which might otherwise be left exposed when the tapeis folded to form a headband, as by first folding one end inwardly tothe middle of the length of the tape and then the other end back overthe top of the first folded end to provide a headband 40 such asillustrated in FIG. 11.

A second continuous length of tape 41 may also be stitched to theopposite side of the bundles 35 of cords directly opposite the firsttape 11 during the wrapping operation as further shown in FIG. 10.Accordingly, when the tapes are subsequently severed between bundles,the severed ends 37 and 43 of the tapes 11 and 4| will extend beyond thebundle of cords where they are stitched together to provide a headband44 having finished edges as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 without having tofold the tapes. However, it may still be desirable to fold the headband44 of P108. 12 and 13, depending upon the degree of stiffness of theheadband and density of the cords desired. Of course, the density ofcords may also be controlled during wrapping of the cords 1 around theconveyor chains 3 and 4 as previously described.

In FIG. 14 there is shown a headband 45 which has been formed by foldingthe ends of a pair of tapes ll and 41 secured to opposite sides of abundle 35 of cords toward the middle to provide four layers of tape. Ofcourse, it will be understood that the tapes 11 and 41 may also befolded in various other ways, as for example, in the manner shown inFIGS. 6 through 9. After folding, the multiple layers of tapes arestitched together by stitching 46 passing entirely through the foldedbundle of cords and tapes as previously described.

In FIG. 15 there is shown yet another form of mop swab 50 in which thetape 51 for the headband 52, rather than being stitched to the cords asshown in FIGS. 1, 2 and I0 prior to folding, is wrapped around the cordsafter the cords have been folded or bunched together intermediate theends of the swab. When thus wrapped, there are no unfinished edges onthe headband, and the cords are secured against pull-out by a pluralityof transverse rows 53 of stitching extending entirely through the bundleof cords across the entire width of the swab, and by a plurality oflongitudinal rows 54 of stitching adjacent opposite sides of theheadband 52 which lock the threads in the transverse rows 53 in placeand keep them from being pulled out at the sides. Such longitudinal rows54 of stitching also cause the headband to flatten out and stiffen theends of the headband to prevent them from drooping, whereby a lightweight tape may also be used for the headband of the FIG. embodiment. Atailband 55 may also be secured to each end 56 of the mop swab 50 of H0.15 adjacent the ends of the loops 57 for maintaining the loops in acontrolled pattern as disclosed, for example, in U. 8. Pat. No.3,324,497, or the loops may be left free, as desired, and the loops mayalso be cut.

From the foregoing, it can now be seen that the various forms of mopswabs disclosed herein permit the use of relatively light weight tapefor the headband without sacrificing stiffness in the headband or havingto contend with unfinished edges. The mop cords are also securelystitched to the headband, and the stitching will not readily pull out.Upon completion of the mop swabs, they may be attached to a handle 58 bya suitable clamping means 59 as shown in FIG. 16 to provide a mopassembly.

I, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as myinvention:

1. A mop swab comprising a plurality of mop cords having a tape ofpredetermined length secured to one side thereof, said tape with mopcords secured thereto being folded at spaced intervals along the lengthof said tape first from one end approximately two-thirds of the lengthof the tape and then from the other end inwardly over the first foldedend to provide a headband consisting of three layers of said tape withcords secured thereto, said layers being secured together by stitchingpassing completely through said layers across the width of saidheadband.

2. A mop swab comprising a plurality of mop cords having a tape ofpredetermined length secured to one side thereof, said plurality of mopcords comprising a continuous wrap of cords to which said tape issecured longitudinally of the length of said wrap, said tape with mopcords secured thereto being folded at spaced intervals along the lengthof said tape to provide a headband consisting of a plurality of layersof said tape with cords secured thereto, said layers being securedtogether by stitching passing completely through said layers across thewidth of said headband.

3. A mop swab comprising a plurality of mop cords having a tape ofpredetermined length secured to one side thereof, said tape with mopcords secured thereto being folded at spaced intervals along the lengthof said tape to provide a headband consisting of a plurality of layersof said tape with cords secured thereto, the ends of the tape extendingbeyond the mop cords secured thereto to provide additional tape materialat the sides of the folded tape which cover the exposed cords afterfolding, said layers being secured together by stitching passingcompletely through said layers across the width of said headband.

4. A method of manufacturing a mop swab comprising the steps of foldinga tape of predetermined length having mop cords secured to one sidethereof at spaced intervals along the length of the tape, such tapefirst being folded from one end inwardly approximately two-thirds of thelength of the tape and then folded from the other end inwardly over thefirst folded end to provide a headband comprising three layers of tapewith cords secured thereto, and stitching such plurality of layerstogether across the width of such headband.

5. A method of manufacturing a mop swab comprising the steps of foldinga tape of predetermined length having mop cords secured to one sidethereof at spaced intervals along the length of the tape to provide aheadband comprising a plurality of layers of tape with cords securedthereto, and stitching such plurality of layers together across thewidth of the headband, such tape with plural mop cords secured to oneside thereof being formed by providing a continuous wrap of cords,stitching the tape to one side of the continuous wrap of cords, andcutting the tape with cords attached thereto into the desired lengthprior to folding.

6. A mop swab comprising a plurality of mop cords having a tape ofpredetermined length secured to one side thereof, said tape with mopcords secured thereto being folded at spaced intervals along the lengthof said tape to provide a headband consisting of a plurality of layersof said tape with cords secured thereto, said tape with cords securedthereto being folded from opposite ends to the middle to provide twosaid layers and refolded all the way across to provide four said layers,said layers being secured together by stitching passing completelythrough said layers across the width of said headband.

7. A mop swab comprising a plurality of mop cords having a tape ofpredetermined length secured to one side thereof, a second tape securedto the other side of said mop cords, the ends of said tapes extendingbeyond said mop cords in alignment with each other, said tape ends beingsecured together beyond said mop cords, said tapes with mop cordssecured thereto being folded at spaced intervals along the length ofsaid tapes to provide a headband consisting of a plurality of layers ofsaid tapes with cords secured thereto, said layers being securedtogether by stitching passing completely through said layers across thewidth of said headband.

8. The mop swab of claim 2 further comprising a second tape secured tothe other side of said mop cords.

9. The mop swab of claim 2 wherein said tape with cords secured theretois folded from opposite ends to the middle to provide two said layers.

10. The mop swab of claim 2 wherein said tape with cords secured theretois folded from one end all the way across the length of the tape toprovide two said layers.

11. The mop swab of claim 10 wherein said tape with cords securedthereto is refolded all the way back to provide four said layers.

12. The method of claim 5 wherein such tape with plural cords securedthereto is folded to provide at least three such layers, and the firsttwo layers are stitched together prior to folding the tape into thethird layer.

13. The method of claim 5 wherein such tape is folded from opposite endsto the middle to provide two such layers.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein such tape is subsequently refoldedall the way across to provide four such layers.

15. The method of claim 5 wherein such tape is folded from one end allthe way across the length of the tape to provide two such layers.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein such tape is subsequently folded allthe way back to the other end to provide four such layers.

# i i k mrarr

1. A mop swab comprising a plurality of mop cords having a tape ofpredetermined length secured to one side thereof, said tape with mopcords secured thereto being folded at spaced intervals along the lengthof said tape first from one end approximately two-thirds of the lengthof the tape and then from the other end inwardly over the first foldedend to provide a headband consisting of three layers of said tape withcords secured thereto, said layers being secured together by sTitchingpassing completely through said layers across the width of saidheadband.
 2. A mop swab comprising a plurality of mop cords having atape of predetermined length secured to one side thereof, said pluralityof mop cords comprising a continuous wrap of cords to which said tape issecured longitudinally of the length of said wrap, said tape with mopcords secured thereto being folded at spaced intervals along the lengthof said tape to provide a headband consisting of a plurality of layersof said tape with cords secured thereto, said layers being securedtogether by stitching passing completely through said layers across thewidth of said headband.
 3. A mop swab comprising a plurality of mopcords having a tape of predetermined length secured to one side thereof,said tape with mop cords secured thereto being folded at spacedintervals along the length of said tape to provide a headband consistingof a plurality of layers of said tape with cords secured thereto, theends of the tape extending beyond the mop cords secured thereto toprovide additional tape material at the sides of the folded tape whichcover the exposed cords after folding, said layers being securedtogether by stitching passing completely through said layers across thewidth of said headband.
 4. A method of manufacturing a mop swabcomprising the steps of folding a tape of predetermined length havingmop cords secured to one side thereof at spaced intervals along thelength of the tape, such tape first being folded from one end inwardlyapproximately two-thirds of the length of the tape and then folded fromthe other end inwardly over the first folded end to provide a headbandcomprising three layers of tape with cords secured thereto, andstitching such plurality of layers together across the width of suchheadband.
 5. A method of manufacturing a mop swab comprising the stepsof folding a tape of predetermined length having mop cords secured toone side thereof at spaced intervals along the length of the tape toprovide a headband comprising a plurality of layers of tape with cordssecured thereto, and stitching such plurality of layers together acrossthe width of the headband, such tape with plural mop cords secured toone side thereof being formed by providing a continuous wrap of cords,stitching the tape to one side of the continuous wrap of cords, andcutting the tape with cords attached thereto into the desired lengthprior to folding.
 6. A mop swab comprising a plurality of mop cordshaving a tape of predetermined length secured to one side thereof, saidtape with mop cords secured thereto being folded at spaced intervalsalong the length of said tape to provide a headband consisting of aplurality of layers of said tape with cords secured thereto, said tapewith cords secured thereto being folded from opposite ends to the middleto provide two said layers and refolded all the way across to providefour said layers, said layers being secured together by stitchingpassing completely through said layers across the width of saidheadband.
 7. A mop swab comprising a plurality of mop cords having atape of predetermined length secured to one side thereof, a second tapesecured to the other side of said mop cords, the ends of said tapesextending beyond said mop cords in alignment with each other, said tapeends being secured together beyond said mop cords, said tapes with mopcords secured thereto being folded at spaced intervals along the lengthof said tapes to provide a headband consisting of a plurality of layersof said tapes with cords secured thereto, said layers being securedtogether by stitching passing completely through said layers across thewidth of said headband.
 8. The mop swab of claim 2 further comprising asecond tape secured to the other side of said mop cords.
 9. The mop swabof claim 2 wherein said tape with cords secured thereto is folded fromopposite ends to the middle to provide two said layers.
 10. The mop swabof claim 2 wherein said tape with cords secured thereto is folded fromone end all the way across the length of the tape to provide two saidlayers.
 11. The mop swab of claim 10 wherein said tape with cordssecured thereto is refolded all the way back to provide four saidlayers.
 12. The method of claim 5 wherein such tape with plural cordssecured thereto is folded to provide at least three such layers, and thefirst two layers are stitched together prior to folding the tape intothe third layer.
 13. The method of claim 5 wherein such tape is foldedfrom opposite ends to the middle to provide two such layers.
 14. Themethod of claim 13 wherein such tape is subsequently refolded all theway across to provide four such layers.
 15. The method of claim 5wherein such tape is folded from one end all the way across the lengthof the tape to provide two such layers.
 16. The method of claim 15wherein such tape is subsequently folded all the way back to the otherend to provide four such layers.